Devotees Witness Huge Rush at Sabarimala as Thanka Anki Procession Nears

In anticipation of the Mandala Puja, a massive influx of devotees is witnessed at Sabarimala as the Thanka Anki procession is set to reach Sannidhanam on Tuesday evening. Pilgrims have been thronging the shrine ahead of this significant event, with the procession starting from Aranmula Parthasarathy temple and scheduled to be welcomed at Saramkuthi by Devaswom board officials. The elaborate Maha Deeparadhana ceremony is planned for 6:30 PM, marking the moment when the Lord Ayyappa idol will be adorned with the golden attire.

The Mandala Puja itself is scheduled for the following day, with the shrine closing temporarily and reopening on December 30 for Makaravilakku. Stringent crowd management measures are implemented to regulate the movement of pilgrims, with phased access to Sannidhanam and pilgrims experiencing extended waiting times of around 15 hours for the ‘Darshan.’